In 2014 Draft target small forward, Key forward (in case Clark & Jurrah dont make it), medium backman and another midfielder. Could look like the following

Pick 1-5 = Key Forward

Pick 20-25 = Small forward

Pick 40-45 = Midfielder

Pick 60-65 = Medium backman

No way will we solve our midfield problems in the 2013 draft and trade period. They are deep and require strong action.

Our top picks in 2014 should still be used on midfielders.

You sit back and read about 'Oh it would be great to get pick 20 for Sylvia' or 'Oh lets just get what we can for J.Watts'

But the fact of the matter is... We can't afford to lose top 10 players.

If we can barely keep our best players.. so how do you all think we are going to attract other top players??

The fact is it is out of our control, Sylvia can walk and if a player doesn't want to be at the club you need to move on quickly and get the best result for the club. I would hate to see Sylvia go, but I would certainly understand why he would go. Watts on the other hand wants it easy, if he stays great but if he doesn't want to stay we have to get the right deal.

The club needs to back themselves if these two want to leave that we get players in that will improve our club, be it established players our young talent. Both Watts and Sylvia are the most frustrating players on our list all the ability to be A grade players but rarely produce this.

Went to a pre match function in adelaide before the crows game.. Watts parents were there and i had a chat to his dad about Jack.. we talked a little bit about if jack was going to be at the club next year and he gave me nothing.. but the feeling was that jack was leaving. As i was leaving the function i said 'il see you next year' (with a grin on my face) he simply put his hands in the air and shrugged.. he saw the disappointment on my face from his reaction.. and said hopefully mate. My feeling is jack is as good as gone!

Also with all the speculation about watts going to the crows.. begs the question why would watts parents fly down to adelaide.. to watch a game with the season all but over..

Jack is best mates with Tom Lynch. His parents may have been invited over to watch the game and invited to the function by Lynch parents.

Based on optimism?

Based on precedence: Pearce and Chaplin EACH got Band 3 Comp for PA.

Not checking.

Couldn't be bothered.

Unrestricted free agents can walk any time they want.

Sylvia is one of those.

Thanks.

Yes they walk anytime they want and to who ever they want, but there is no rule to say they cant be traded. Its the fact that why would a club trade for a free agent when they can get them for free.

Not checking.

Couldn't be bothered.

Unrestricted free agents can walk any time they want.

Sylvia is one of those.

Thanks.

They can still be traded if the other club agrees to it. Monfries is the key example. The Power didn't want to lower their compensation and the Bombers didn't think they would get any, so a trade was arranged. So it is possible.

RFA can be traded - Monfries is the precedent for that.

Trading a UFA is another matter entirely and I really don't know if the AFL will allow it. The players association will have issues with it as they do not like how the compensation model is stifling movement of players as it is (the idea that you get the 'balance' in comp between FAs into your club and out of your club - clubs are not signing players if they lose a good player).

If we lose Sylvia - we will not sign any FA and hope that we get Band 3 compensation (Pick 20). Band 4 will be Pick 35ish. Band 5 will be Pick 38ish.

Yes they walk anytime they want and to who ever they want, but there is no rule to say they cant be traded. Its the fact that why would a club trade for a free agent when they can get them for free.

They can still be traded if the other club agrees to it. Monfries is the key example. The Power didn't want to lower their compensation and the Bombers didn't think they would get any, so a trade was arranged. So it is possible.

Monfries was not an UFA.

And it hasn't been tested yet. The AFL did not think through this and made up rules 'on the fly.'

Clubs may test it but the AFL has yet to rule on it.

FAs can be traded to not dilute the comp gains of losing a FA. But you'd only get a very low pick in return, such as pick 368. To try and do similar with Silvia for pick 20, for example, is not going to happen when a club could get him for nothing.

It's a case of get a FA for nothing or trade for a nothing draft pick.

FAs can be traded to not dilute the comp gains of losing a FA. But you'd only get a very low pick in return, such as pick 368. To try and do similar with Silvia for pick 20, for example, is not going to happen when a club could get him for nothing.

It's a case of get a FA for nothing or trade for a nothing draft pick.

Yes, a good point.

Let's say collingwood wants Sylvia and had just lost Thomas to Carlton - they will want to trade with us so that they don't lose the bonus 1st round pick just after their pick that they will get for him. They may offer something for him, but it will not be near the pick we would get for him if he left as a FA.

Look, I am all for the club to explore trading of UFAs if Sylvia decides to leave - but don't hold your breath.

The club have no controlling rights over an unrestricted free agent, the player is deemed to be out of contract and on the free market. Cannot be traded.

Another way to sign a free agent without potentially diluting compensation is to sign a player as a delisted free agent after the club has officially deleted them from the list, ala Simpkin from Geelong to Hawthorn and Tom Gillies to us last year.

If we wanted to bring in Daniel Cross this year, we could arrange to bring him in this way. There is a role there for him in our midfield group and I wouldn’t be surprised if GWS had similar thoughts. I would assume the Doggies will delist him as they’ve told him they won’t offer him a new contract. In hindsight (regardless of whether you think we should have brought him in or not), perhaps this is how we should have brought in Byrnes as well. Arguable as to how much it affected our compensation for Moloney and Rivers.

Jusf in regards to Sylvia, we offerd him a 2 year deal with a pay cut. Sylvia wasnt impressed and looks likely to leave.

Jusf in regards to Sylvia, we offerd him a 2 year deal with a pay cut. Sylvia wasnt impressed and looks likely to leave.

Yes it is almost a certainty. Pies would be frontrunners.

Jusf in regards to Sylvia, we offerd him a 2 year deal with a pay cut. Sylvia wasnt impressed and looks likely to leave.

So Davey’s gone, Sylvia and Watts may go. One would estimate that would be a chunk of salary saved by the club. I’m wondering how much money is committed to Dawes and Clark for the upcoming financial period, and how we intend to spend an appropriate amount of the salary cap. Are we offering Sylvia less to free up money to throw at someone else, or are we being squeezed because we paid overs for Clark and Dawes?

Where does Frawley sit at the moment? Surely we’d be looking ahead at his UFA status next year and offering an extension? If not, we should be exploring what his trade value is.

We would be insane not to sit down with Chip, if he has already made the decision privately that when his time is up he is going to leave then we need to look at trading him, young darcy gardiner in the draft will be a very good full back and will go about pick 15 so if we get that for watts it would be a handy replacement

having said that i'd offer chip a 3 year extension at 1 mil a year and co captaincy next year, he is our most important player by a mile.

Frawley would have significant trade value if he does want to leave though, i'd be looking at Gold coast for Prestia or Swallow and first round pick

Watts should get us a later first round pick given the level of interest he is attracting

losing Col should get us a pick between 20-30

if we lose all three as well as davey and don't get at least 2 free agents we're in big trouble.

Jack is best mates with Tom Lynch. His parents may have been invited over to watch the game and invited to the function by Lynch parents.

Could be that case.. However it was only a Melbourne function.. and they sat with Mitch Clisby and Tapscott and Trengove's parents at the game

The club have no controlling rights over an unrestricted free agent, the player is deemed to be out of contract and on the free market. Cannot be traded.

A players contract does not expire until 31st of October.

This years trade period runs until the 25th October.

Therefor all players are contracted during the trade period.

Could be that case.. However it was only a Melbourne function.. and they sat with Mitch Clisby and Tapscott and Trengove's parents at the game

OK fair enough I just assumed it was a Crows function.

So Davey’s gone, Sylvia and Watts may go. One would estimate that would be a chunk of salary saved by the club. I’m wondering how much money is committed to Dawes and Clark for the upcoming financial period, and how we intend to spend an appropriate amount of the salary cap. Are we offering Sylvia less to free up money to throw at someone else, or are we being squeezed because we paid overs for Clark and Dawes?

Where does Frawley sit at the moment? Surely we’d be looking ahead at his UFA status next year and offering an extension? If not, we should be exploring what his trade value is.

You will find both Clark and Dawes had very heavy front ended contracts and the reduce each year. I reckon we could afford to throw a 1.5mil + a year at someone if Davey, Sylvia and Watts go, maybe a superstar of the competition free agent that was a passionate MFC supporter. Play him off the wing rest forward, now wouldn't that be a huge win for the club.

Great to dream this time of year, the reality is we will end up with 5-7 kids and 5 picks inside pick 21. Priority pick, pick 3, Pick 10ish(Watts), Pick 19, pick 20(Sylvia), but wouldn't it just be great if we have those picks and one L. Franklin, that would get Paul Roos to the club or even maybe a successful premiership coach that played for the MFC that is coaching the top team at the moment.

if we had $1.5 million to spend rather than see it thrown at someone I would rather see us clear some more money and get 3 quality players in for $600k per season

Wrong.

Once again.

Pants

Pulled

Down

Again

You sit back and read about 'Oh it would be great to get pick 20 for Sylvia' or 'Oh lets just get what we can for J.Watts'

But the fact of the matter is... We can't afford to lose top 10 players.

If we can barely keep our best players.. so how do you all think we are going to attract other top players??

These so called "top players" don't influence games of footy, which is why they're running around in the worst team in living memory.

Pants

Pulled

Down

Again

Lets not go there BH we are all wrong at times.

Lets not go there BH we are all wrong at times.

At least be humble about it. Like me.

At least be humble about it. Like me.

The best joke I've read all day!